Released three days after Adolf Hitler became Reichskanzler, it was the first film to have its screening in Nazi Germany. It became a symbol of the new times touted by the Nazi regime. The title (literally "morning-red") is the German term for the reddish coloring of the east sky about a half hour before the sunrise. On patrol Captain Liers and his submarine crew sink an important British ship, but while returning to harbour, they're lured into a trap by a British vessel disguised as a neutral Danish one. They sink it after it attacks them without warning, but while they prepare to rescue survivors, a British destroyer sinks the sub. On the sea bed 60 feet down, with all but the bridge flooded, the 10 surviving crew have only 8 rescue devices. Liers orders the crew to use them, but they disobey - either all escape or nobody does.
Rudolf Forster
as Kapitanleutnant Helmut Liers
Fritz Genschow
as Oberleutnant 'Phipps' Fredericks
Paul Westermeier
as Bordfunker Jaul
Camilla Spira
as Grete Jaul
Gerhard Bienert
as Steuermann Böhm
Adele Sandrock
as Mutter Liers
Hans Leibelt
as Bürgermeister von Meerskirchen
Eduard von Winterstein
as Hauptmann Kolch
Franz Nicklisch
as Petermann
Friedrich Gnaß
as Juraczik
Else Knott
as Helga
Frank Perfitt
as
